Railway switch controlling means



Oct. 15, 1935. H. c. QDENKIRK 2,017,769

RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 12, 1934- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mun W111] Oct. 15, 1935. H. c. ODENKIRK RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 12, 1934- 3 Sheets-Sheet; 2

Oct. 15, 1935. c QDENK|RK 2,017,769

RAILWAY SWITCH CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 12, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3' Patented Oct. 15, I935 15 Claims.

This invention pertains-to improved controlling means for manually operated railway switches, and is especiallydesigned to insure the v safety of trains moving over theswitch.

' The prime object of the invention is to provide safe, simple, durable, practical and thoroughly efficient means whereby-a train is held in a safe position until the switch shall have been completely operated to an absolutely safe position before the train is allowed to pass'thereover.

Another object of the invention is to provide means connected with the switch stand and operated by the initial movement of the switch lever whereby a warning or danger'signal is imparted to the train located at a suitable distance from said switch.

Another object of the invention is to. provide means in connection with the switch stand that will serve to prevent the operator from completely closing the switch and thereby display an approaohing'or safety signal, and at the same time indicate to the operator that some obstruction has occurred to prevent the safe and complete closure of the switch.

Further objects of the invention are to so construct my novel means that positive means for simultaneously operating both a switch and a distant signal are provided; that an initial upward movement of the operating lever of about 80 six inches will impart a warning or danger signal to be displayed at a suitable distance from the switch; that 'said danger signal will remain in vision until the further operation of the said lever shall have been nearly completed and the 85 switch pointsare caused to be almost entirely closed; means toindicate to the operator at this stage ofclosure of the switch that there is some obstruction that preventsthe switch point 'from being entirely closed to'the'safe andproper posi- (0- tion (should such obstruction'b'e caused by any means whatsoever), and means for imparting a safe approaching signal by the final downward movement of the lever of about six inches when the switch shall have been safely and properly is closed, and the train maysafely pass thereover.

The foregoing and such otherobjects as may occur from the ensuing description are accomplished by the construction, arrangement, location and combination of the several parts here- 50 inafter more *fully described, illustrated by the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slight changes in the form, proportions and minor details ofthe precise con- 55' struction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

' In the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification it will be seen that:

Figure 1 is a top plan view, showing a railway switch provided with the novel operating and controlling means embodying-my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the switch stand, showing by dotted lines the initial movement of the hand operating lever. 19

Figure 3 is anenlargedtop plan of my improved switch stand and parts connected therewith, showing the cross-tie supports and connecting rods broken away.

Figure 4 is aside elevation partly in section, 15 taken in the plane of the dotted lines 4-4, Fig. 3, looking in the direction or the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevation taken in theplane of the dotted lines 5-5; Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows. 20

Figure 6 is a similar view taken in the same plane, showing the position assumed by the operating lever with relation to the yoke when initial movement has been imparted to said lever.

Figure 7 is asimila'r view'taken in thesame 25 plane, showing the position '01 the yoke when the final locking movement has been imparted to the operating lever. I

Figure 8 is a front elevation of the-signal operating yoke removed from its supporting shaft, and

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the yoke shown in Fig. 8.

In the embodiment of -my=invention as illustrated it will be seen by reference to Fig.1 of the drawings that the numeral designates railway cross-ties upon which are fixedly secured portions of my improved switch stand comprising a metallic casting 3 rigidly secured to each crosstie by a plurality of securing bolts 4, or other desirable means, each casting 3 being provided at its outer end with an integral upright member 5 having a reinforced portion 6, and at the inner end portion of each casting 3 is formed a member I, while intermediate of said members 5 and I of each casting is formed an upright integral member B'provided with a locking latch-8' pivotally secured to the member 8, and above said latch-8 isan opening iormedthrough the top portion of member 8 for the reception of a padlockB", as shown in Fig. 4, serving to retain said latch 8 in its locked position against any accidental upward movement of the' operating lever.

Fitted through a circular opening formed through the members'S; l and 8 is a cylindrical shaft 9, to each end of which is fixedly secured a disk shaped member ID provided with an extended portion I 0', to which is adjustably secured a rod ll. Centrally of and pivotally supported upon said shaft is a rocking or swinging metallic yoke member I2 formed with a hub portion l3 at each end thereof, a depending extended portion M with an opening formed therethrough to which is secured an adjustable signal operating rod l5 having a link I5 secured to its outer end portion, said link carrying means being properly connected with any suitable or Well known contact means provided by the conventional electrically operated means l6 supported on one of the cross-ties 2 for furnishing the desired distant. signal at the proper time and place.

Supported upon the two cross-ties 2 and fixedly secured thereto in any suitable manner is the switch stand proper consisting of a metallic casting ll carrying a casing I8 having a side extension l9, and within said casing is disposed the switch operating grooved cam adapted for the reception of a roller secured to the inner portion of the switch operating bar l9 constructed and operating substantially the same as shown in my former Patent No. 1,569,333, dated January 12, 1926. One end of the casing I8 is provided with an extension forming a bearing surface 20 for the reception of the journalled end of said grooved cam to which end is fixedly secured to weighted switch operating lever .2l, while the other end of the casing is closed by a cap 22.

It will be perceived by reference to Figs. 2 and 3 that the weighted operating lever is shown in its locked position resting within the notches formed in the upper portion of members 5 and 1, and in the upper portion of the member 8 and the disk member I0, and that the yoke member I2 is formed at each end thereof with two upright members 23 and 24 spaced apart for the reception of the operating lever 2 I said members being connected at the top with straight parallel bars or portions 25 and 26, as is clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, while the inner face of each of said upright members is provided with different cam formations at each opposite side, and at each end of the yoke, said yoke being formed from a single piece of metal, with the exception that the inner parallel portion or bar 25 is provided with a detachable central portion in order to readily permit the insertion of'the inner end portion of the operating lever 2| to be inserted or assembled within the said yoke and between the said portions 25 and 26 thereof.

As shown in Fig. 1, 2B designates a switch of the'ordinary and well known type, and comprises the usual stock rails B and C and the movable switch points 21 and 28, said switch points being connected for simultaneous movement by a bar 29, and a rod ll adapted to actuate the switch point locking member 31 to which the said rod II is fixedly secured.

It will be understood that, while my novel and improved switch and signal controlling means is shown installed at the left hand side of the main track, it is equally applicable for installation on the right hand side, the connecting parts being correspondingly assembled, and, while an additional switch point looking or securing means, comprising a rod 32, to one end of which is secured a bar 33, resting in contact with the switch point 2'! is shown in Fig. 1, for the purpose of insuring that the switch point has reached its proper and safely locked position, this additional locking means may be' omitted or eliminated, if

desired, since the other locking means hereinbefore described makes it practically certain that the switch points are safely locked in their proper position when the operating lever shall have assumed its locked position, as shown in Figs. 2 6

and 3 of the drawings.

It will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that the disk like member I!) is provided with adjustable means whereby the rod I l is adjustably connected thereto, said rod being adjustably connected at 10 its other end to a switch point locking means, since it is important to the practical operation of my means that the notch formation in the upper portion of the member ID should at all times properly register with the other notches 15 to permit the operating lever to rest in its completely locked position after the switch points shall have been moved to their safe position with relation to the main track rails B and C.

The operation of my improved means may be 20 briefly described as follows:

The operator, after removing the padlock, grasps the weighted end of the operating lever 2| and, by imparting a short upward movement of about six inches thereto, causes the inner end 26 portion of said lever by contact with the camshaped inner face of one upright member 23 at one end of the yoke member l2 to impart an inward rocking movement to said yoke, thereby causing the depending portion [4 of the yoke to 80 move outwardly, which movement, by the means connecting the yoke with the electrically operated signal means, causes a danger or warning signal not to approach to be displayed at the desired'distance from the switch, at which time 35 the operating lever has assumed the position shown by cross-section in Fig. 6 at one end portion of the yoke and between the spaced apart upper portions of the yoke, said yoke having been caused to assume an upright position, and the 40- operator continues the further movement or throw of the said lever between the parallel top portions of the yoke until the lever has reached the opposite end of the yoke, and during said further movement of the lever the switch points have been moved by the switch operating means hereinbefore described to their proper position with relation to the main track rails and the final short downward movement of the operating lever causes a portion of the lever to contact with a reverse cam formation on the inner face of an upright member at the opposite end of the yoke, thereby imparting an inward rocking movement to the top portion of the yoke and an outward movement to the means connecting said yoke to the electrically operated signal means, thus simultaneously causing a safety (or approaching) signal to be displayed, and at the same time the notch formed in the disk It! is brought into proper alignment with the notches formed in the upper part of the members 5, l and 8, so that the weighted operating lever may rest within the said notches in its normal position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and then be locked with the. padlock 8", as shown in Fig. 4, but, in the event of any broken or disconnected operating parts, or an obstruction, be placed be-, tween the switch points, and the main rail, the notch in the disk member ID will fail to register with the other notches adapted to receive the operating lever, and said lever will come to a stop on the upper surface of said member ID, thereby indicating to the operator that something is wrong; preventing the display of the safety or approach signal, and the final move- Hi ment of the said 'leveriiinto' i-ts' locked position, until :alll obstructionsi shalll :haveubeemremoved so as to permit said finali movementfofl'the op- Having thus described my invention; -what I "claim and desire to secme by' LettersPatent is:

' 1 Railway 'switch controlling means-, -comp'ris ing an operating lever,-a'-ro(-:kingmember ha'vi'ng spaced end portions'lformd with' inner cam surfaces anddisposed in the path of th-leverand facesp'said member dieing-'-operativelw=connected with means adapted to display a' dangersignabor a safety signal by the movement of the lever.

2. Railway switch' controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for imparting the proper movement to the switch, two castings fixedly seated on railway cross-ties, each casting having a plurality of integral notched uprights for the reception of the operating lever, a shaft supported by said castings, a yoke supported by said shaft, and means operatively associated with said yoke and cooperating with means for displaying a danger and a safety signal, said yoke being operated by said lever.

3. Railway switch controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for moving the switch into its proper position, a pair of castings fixedly secured to railway cross-ties, a plurality of upright notched members forming integral parts of each casting for the reception of the operating lever, a shaft supported by the castings, and means secured to one end of said shaft operatively associating the same with means for indicating to the switch operator that the switch is not in safe condition.

4. Railway switch controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for properly operating the switch, a rocking yoke member having longtiudinally spaced end portions, and inner cam surfaces at each of said end portions disposed in the path of the lever and onerated by said lever, said member being operatively connected with means for displaying a warning signal by the first slight upward movement of the lever, and for displaying a safety signal by a slight final movement of said lever.

5. Railway switch controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for imparting the proper movement to the switch, a pair of castings secured to railway cross-ties, a shaft carried by the castings, a rocking yoke carried by the shaft, said yoke having longitudinally spaced end portions, and inner cam surfaces at each of said end portions disposed in the path of the lever and operated by said lever, and means connected with said yoke and operatively connected with means for displaying a danger signal by the first slight movement of the lever, and for setting a safety signal by the final slight movement of said lever.

6. Railway switch controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for moving the switch in safe relation to the railway rails, a pair of castings fixedly secured to railway cross-ties, a rocking yoke member supported by said shaft centrally thereof, said yoke having longitudinally spaced end portions, and inner cam surfaces at each of said end portions disposed in the path of the lever and operated by said lever, and means connected with said yoke operatively connected with means for imparting both aar dangenandt a safetysignal' by the moving contact of the 1 operating lever with the inner cam 'surfaces of-xsaidi yoke.

-=" '7il'iRai1wayswitch controlling means, comprising an cperating lever connected with'means 5 iaporti'ons and inner cam surfaces at each-ofsaid: 10

:e-endportionsdisposed in the path of the lever and operated by said lever, and means connected to said-yokezand' connected with electrically operatedinieans' forsetting a danger signal and a safety -1si'gnal'1by'rthe rockingsmovement of the yoke by1=15 :eoontact of the operating lever with the inner cam si surfaces ofs the y'oke.

iisi flailway switch -controllingi. means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for causing the proper movement of the switch, means fixedly seated upon railway cross-ties for supporting a shaft, rocking means supported centrally of said shaft having spaced end portions, and inner cam surfaces at each of said end portions disposed in the path of the lever and operated by said lever and operatively connected with electrically operated means for imparting a danger signal and a safety signal by the sliding contact of the operating lever with said rocking means.

9. Railway switch controlling means, comprising an operating lever connected with means for properly shifting the switch, means for supporting a shaft secured to railway cross-ties, rocking means mounted centrally of the shaft and formed 35 with longitudinally spaced end portions, and inner cam surfaces at each of the end portions disposed in the path of the lever and operated by said lever, means connected with said rocking means and operatively connected with electrically operated means for imparting both a danger and a safety signal by the sliding contact of a portion of the operating lever with the inner cam surfaces of the rocking means.

10. In a railway switch controlling means, a 5 switch operating lever, a rocking yoke member within which one end portion of said lever is normally disposed, said member having longitudinally spaced end portions and oppositely disposed inner cam surfaces formed at each end portion thereof, and means connected to said yoke operatively connected with electrically operated means for setting a signal by a sliding contact of the operating lever with said cam surfaces.

11. In a railway switch controlling means, a 55 switch operating lever, .a rocking yoke member formed with spaced end portions each having inner cam surfaces spaced apart for the reception of one end portion of the said lever, means connected to the lower end portion of said yoke operatively connected with electrically operated means for setting a signal by contact of the lever with the cam surfaces at each end of the yoke.

12. In a railway switch controlling means, a switch operating lever, a rocking yoke formed with an open space at its top portion and with inner cam-shaped formations at each end of said top portion for the reception of one end portion of the lever, means connected with the lower end portion of the yoke operatively connected with 7 electrically operated means for furnishing a danger signal by the first upward movement of the lever, and a safety signal by the final downward movement of said lever.

13. In a railway switch controlling means, a

switch operating lever; a shaft, means for supporting said shaft, a rocking yoke having spaced ends mounted on the shaft, said yoke having upright extended portions at each end thereof provided with cam-shaped inner faces spaced apart for the reception of a portion of the lever, and a lower depending portion, means connected with said lower portion operatively connected with electrically operated means for displaying a danger signal by the first movement of the lever and a safety signal by the final movement of said lever.

14. In a railway-switch controlling means, a switch operating lever, a shaft, a rocking yoke mounted on the shaft and operated by direct contact with said lever, means connected to the lower end portion of the yoke operatively connected with electrically operated means for displaying a danger signal by the first upward movement of the lever, and a safety signal by the final downward movement of said lever.

15. In a railway switch controlling means, a

switch operating lever, a shaft, a rocking yoke 5 having spaced ends mounted on the shaft, said yoke having upwardly extending portions at each end thereof with cam formations on their inner faces spaced apart for the reception of the lever, and a downwardly extended portion, means connected with the last named portion operatively connected with electrically operated means for setting a danger signal by contact of the lever with the cam surfaces at one end of the yoke,

and a safety signal by contact with the cam sur- 15 faces at the other end of the yoke.

HARRY C. ODENKIRK. 

